Firehose retractor

ABSTRACT

Discloses a pivotally mounted, firehose retractor for retracting for storage by flattening, and removing trapped water and air from coupled-together, collapsible, pressure-type firehose, laidout on the ground, serpentinefashion or otherwise, without dragging the firehose on the ground, fraying or otherwise damaging the firehose. The firehose is guided over and between guide rollers, between brushes which automatically remove small stones, pebbles and other debris, to pick-up and feeding retractor rollers whose exerting pressure is adjustable. Such pivotal mounting and guide rollers cooperate to automatically face the retractor rollers in the correct and proper feeding directions at all times. Roller retractor drive is transmitted by a drive means that has an electric motor and adjustable, torqueresponsive clutch to permit retractor roller slippage to prevent the firehose from being dragged on the ground or otherwise damaged. Tapered retractor roller portions prevent end-creasing damage to the firehose. Also discloses a drive train modification to effect positive drive transmission to both retractor rollers.

ilnited States Patent @gden, Jr.

1 FIREHOSE RETRACTOR Grant M. Ogden, Jr., Elnora, NY. [73] Assignee Gloria F Qgden, Elnora, NY;

[75] Inventor:

a p interest, 22 Filed: Feb. 21, 1974 21 Appl. No; 444,673

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,181,455 5/1965 Gouker et al. lOO/l76 UX 3,601,038 8/1971 Hayes 100/100 Primary Examiner-Billy J. Wilhite Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Walter F. Wessendorf, Jr.

[451 Feb. 18,1975

[57] ABSTRACT Discloses a pivotally mounted, firehose retractor for retracting for storage by flattening, and removing trapped water and air from coupled-together, collapsible, pressure-type firehose, laid-out on the ground, serpentinefashion or otherwise, without dragging the firehose on the ground, fraying or otherwise damaging the firehose. The firehose is guided over and between guide rollers, between brushes which automatically remove small stones, pebbles and other debris, to pickup and feeding retractor rollers whose exerting pressure is adjustable. Such pivotal mounting and guide rollers cooperate to automatically face the retractor rollers in the correct and proper feeding directions at all times. Roller retractor drive is transmitted by a drive means that has an electric motor and adjustable, torque-responsive clutch to permit retractor roller slippage to prevent the firehose from being dragged on the ground or otherwise damaged. Tapered retractor roller portions prevent end-creasing damage to the firehose. Also discloses a drive train modification to effect positive drive transmission to both retractor rollers.

10 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures SHEET 2 BF 5 PATENTED FEB] 8 I975 PATENTEUFEB I 81975 28681532 sum 30F s 1 ROLLERS F GEAR Box I73 I75 I69 CONTROL I l[ PANEL /o- GEAR '67 K '6 BOX POWER SOURCE REDUCTION GEAR BOX CLUTCH 9 PATENTEU FEET 8 5 SHEET Q 0F 5 "BGEBSSZ PATENTED FEB 1 8 5 SHEET 5 OF 5 FIREHOSE RETRACTOR This invention relates to the retracting of coupledtogether, collapsible, pressure-type firehose.

Collapsible, pressure-type firehose is utilized at the scene of a fire for conducting water from a water source under pressure to a pumper truck, or between pumper trucks, for high-pressure use in combatting the fire. Often, several hundred feet of this type of firehose must be laid out to connect a distant water source under pressure to a pumper truck, or laid out between pumper trucks. This type of firehose is laid out and used on the ground under all kinds of soil, season and weather conditions. The firehose must be quickly laid out on the ground at the scene of a fire and as laid out is serpentine shape and otherwise. Proper retraction of the collapsible, pressure-type firehose requires the firehose be raised, that all small stones, pebbles and other debris be removed from its exterior, that it be flattened for folding with all water and air removed from its interior, that it be folded for compact storage in the hose bed of the fire engine and that it be stored in the hose bed of the fire engine for the time and occasion of its subsequent use at a fire.

Understandably, proper execution of the retracting procedure for several hundred feet of laid-out firehose requires the active and time-consuming energy and effort of several firemen. While this firehose retracting procedure is being accomplished, the firehose lies idle on the ground, the fire engine which stores the firehose remains idle and several firemen must remain to carry out and complete this firehose retracting procedure. It is further understandable, therefore, how this problem of retracting the laid-out firehose can contribute to or otherwise lead to a subsequent tragedy.

For, while firemen are laboriously and time consumingly engaged in retracting no longer needed laid-out firehose after the fire has been put out, these firemen can not be further utilized should another fire break out elsewhere, the firehose being retracted can not be used for the new fire until the retracting procedure has been completed, nor can the fire engine be sent to the new fire in a condition fully equipped for use until the firehose retracting procedure has been completed.

In the conventional retracting procedure, there is one fireman in the cab of the fire engine backing it up in response to commands from firemen in the rear of the fire engine. Six to eight firemen are usually on the ground breaking the hose couplings of the snaked-out, coupled-together firehose laid-out on the ground. These six to eight firemen on the ground drain the water out of each uncoupled section of firehose by raising to shoulder height one end of a section of firehose and walking the section of firehose to its other end. These six to eight firemen also roll up the sections of uncoupled firehose to remove therefrom any trapped water and air. These rolled-up sections of firehose are then unrolled and are then handed up to three firemen who are stationed on the hose bed in the rear of the fire engine. These three firemen recouple the sections of firehose, fold the recoupled sections of firehose for compact storage in the hose bed and store the folded firehose in the hose bed. Because firehose storage space in the hose bed is limited, trapped water and air must be removed from the firehose and the recoupled firehose must be folded to maximize storage capacity of the recoupled firehose in the hose bed. Small stones,

pebbles and other debris become imbedded in or otherwise attached to the laid-out firehose. Such imbedded small stones, pebbles and other debris, if not removed from the exterior of the firehose, can and do cause damage to the firehose. To properly clean the firehose to remove such small stones, pebbles and other debris, the cleaning would have to be done by hand and would add additional time and effort to the firehose retracting procedure.

It should be discerned and appreciated, therefore, that conventional firehose retracting procedure requires ten to twelve firemen, their strenuous efforts and a considerable amount of their time to accomplish.

in an attempt to contribute to the solution of the problems of the art, the prior art has the coupledtogether firehose guided through :a guide ring, then fed through motor-driven, vertically dlisposed retractor rollers mounted on a traversing carriage. The retractor rollers are yieldingly connected together by a tension spring carried by the drive motors which drive the retractor rollers. This prior-art attempt is lacking in many respects.

The mounting carriage of the prior-art rectilinearly traverses but does not pivot. Hence, there is no pivoting of the vertically disposed retractor rollers to face in the correct, proper and necessary direction of feed of the firehose with consequent ground-dragging of, fraying of and damage to the firehose. The function of the traversing carriage is not to facilitate proper directional feed of the firehose, but rather the primary purpose and function of the traversing carriage is to facilitate storage of the firehose in the hose bed after the firehose has been fed through the vertical retractor rollers.

The guide ring of the prior art is fixed to the traversing carriage and will snag the firehose at its bottom-half portion with consequent ground-dragging of, fraying of and damage to the firehose because of the guide rings construction and because of the downward force component the raised heavy firehose exerts upon the guide ring. When the firehose is being fed at an angle through the guide ring, the guide ring will also snag the firehose with consequent ground-dragging of, fraying of and damage to the firehose.

Trapped water and air must be removed from the firehose to permit compact storage of the firehose in the hose bed of the fire engine. The vertically disposed retractor rollers of the prior art will not squeeze out all the trapped water and air within the firehose for the reason that the vertical retractor rollers, by their very constructions and arrangements, are unable to flatten the end creases of the firehose edges and hence the flat portions of the squeezed together firehose will not be compressed together by the vertical retractor rollers. Therefore, trapped water and air will remain in the fire hose and more particularly will remain in the region of the end crease on the bottom of the squeezed-together firehose.

The parallel-arranged, vertically-disposed retractor rollers of the prior art will cause damage to the end creases of the firehose depending upon the spring tension of the tension spring that connects the vertically disposed retractor rollers through their drive motors. Furthermore, if the preset spring tension is sufficient to feed the firehose between the vertically disposed retractor rollers, then the retractor rollers will not open sufficiently to allow passage of the firehose couplings, but will rather wedge themselves on the fire hose couplings. This wedging will be more pronounced if corrugated or grooved retractor rollers are utilized. On the other hand, if the preset spring tension is sufficient to feed the firehose couplings, then the vertically disposed retractor rollers will not exert enough pressure to feed the firehose therethrough. The prior art does not incorporate any device or feature providing for adjustment of the pressure the vertically disposed retractor rollers exert on the interposed firehose.

While being guided through the guide ring and fed through the vertically disposed retractor rollers, the bottom edge of the firehose will snag itself upon the carriage or otherwise result in damage to the bottom edge of the firehose.

There are no slip-clutch or slip-coupling means interposed in the drive trains of the prior art between the drive motors and the driven, vertically disposed retractor rollers. Hence, at times, the firehose will be dragged along the ground, will be stretched, frayed and otherwise damaged from the feeding operation.

The prior art incorporates no feature at all for cleaning the firehose to remove small stones, pebbles and other debris.

The prior art provides switch control in the cab of the fire engine for minimum safety instead of a dead-mans switch control on the firehose retractor itself at the rear of the tire engine for maximum safety where the critical work of retracting the firehose is being performed.

The object of this invention is to contribute to the solution of the discussed problems of the art by providing a firehose retractor pivotally mounted on the rear of the fire engine. The firehose retractor has front, horizontal and laterally-adjustable, vertical guide rollers to accommodate different sizes of firehose. The front, guide rollers guide the coupled-together firehose through appropriately disposed brushes to retractor rollers that pick up and the firehose between the retractor rollers over a rear, horizontal guide roller to the rear of the fire engine for storage in the hose bed. The front, horizontal and vertical guide rollers guide the coupled-together firehose to the retractor rollers without fraying, straining or otherwise damaging the firehose. The brushes automatically clean the firehose by removing any small stones, pebbles or other debris from the firehose. The pivotal mounting feature of the firehose retractor together with its front, guide rollers cooperate to automatically face the retractor rollers in the correct and proper direction of firehose feed regardless of the serpentine directions in which the firehose may be laid out on the ground. An incorporated adjustment feature permits adjustment of the pressure that the upper and lower retractor rollers exert on the interposed feeding firehose.

Tapering of the ends of the lower retractor roller has the advantages of there being more roller area for feeding surface contact with the firehose and correspondingly less pressure that the retractor rollers need to exert on the firehose not only to maintain feed of the firehose but also to squeeze out any trapped water and air from the firehose for the reason that the tapered portions of the lower retractor roller accommodate the spatial necessity brought about by the greater space occupied by the end creases of the firehose edges. This end tapering of the lower retractor roller, accordingly, not only allows the firehose to be squeezed flat except for its end creases, but also prevents the firehose end creases from being squeezed flat with consequent firehose damage.

The drive train incorporates an adjustable, torqueresponsive, electric clutch, controlled by a dead-mans switch, such that sufficient torque can be transmitted to the lower retractor roller to effect pick up of the firehose from the ground and feed between the retractor rollers. The coupled-together firehose laid out on the ground constitutes a tremendous weight by itself and considerably more so when water is in the firehose. Should the coupled-together firehose, as laid out on the ground, be dragged, the firehose will be frayed and otherwise damaged. If the coupled-together firehose, laidout on the ground, becomes snagged or if the fire engine is not being backed up at a rate of speed commensurate with the rate of speed at which the firehose is feeding through the retractor rollers, clutch slippage results with correspondingly transmitted drive slippage to the lower retractor roller preventing firehose feed by the retractor rollers, and thereby preventing the firehose from being dragged on the ground, from being frayed or from being otherwise damaged.

The firehose retractor of this invention further incorporates a hand-lever operated mechanism to raise the upper retractor roller to its open position to allow passage of the firehose coupling, and to return the upper retractor roller to its closed and operative position to resume feed of the firehose.

In utilizing the firehose retractor of this invention, the firehose remains coupled throughout the retracting procedure. Initial start-up of the retracting procedure is commenced by appropriately disposing the firehose between the upper and lower retractor rollers for pick up and feeding of the firehose. The fire engine is backed up as the firehose feeds between the retractor rollers without any dragging of the firehose laid out on the ground. Personnel-wise, one fireman is in the cab of the fire engine backing it up at a rate of speed commensurate with the rate of speed at which the firehose is feeding between the retractor rollers. Four firemen are in the rear of the fire engine, one of whom is operating the firehose retractor and the other three firemen are stationed in the hose bed. The three firemen stationed in the hose bed fold the coupled-together firehose for storage and store the firehose in the hose bed. Accordingly, by utilizing the firehose retractor of this invention, five firemen with less effort can complete in one-third the time the firehose retracting procedure that conventionally takes ten to twelve firemen to accomplish.

Accordingly, this object of the invention and other objects of the invention should be discerned and appreciated by reference to the detailed specification taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention showing the firehose retractor mounted by the mounting bracket carried on the rear of the tire engine;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the firehose retractor;

FIG. 3 is a partial front view of the firehose retractor;

FIG. 4 is a partial front view of the firehose retractor showing the upper retractor roller in its closed operative position relative to the lower retractor roller;

FIG. 5 is a partial front view of the firehose retractor showing the upper retractor roller in its open position relative to the lower retractor roller;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the invention showing the pivotal mounting of the firehose retractor on the mounting bracket carried on the rear of the fire engine;

FIG. 7 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows 7 7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is ablock diagram representing the power train and circuit utilized in the invention;

FIG. 9 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows 9 9 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a view of a section of 5 inch firehose coupled together;

FIG. 11 is a view ofa section of 2 /2 inch firehose coupled together;

FIG. 12 is a view of a modification of the power train for simultaneously driving both the upper and lower retractor rollers; and

FIG. 13 is a partial view of the modification shown in FIG. 12 and shows the upper retractor roller in its open position.

In FIG. 1 of the drawings, reference numeral 1 generally refers to the invention showing the firehose retractor 3 pivotally mounted on mounting bracket 5 that is mounted in fixed relationship on the rearward end of fire engine 7. The rearward end of fire engine 7 has a rear wall 9, rear step 11, upstanding opposed sidewalls 13 and 15 (commonly referred to as beaver tails") carrying therebetween in fixed relationship a grab rail With reference to FIGS. 1, 6 and 7 of the drawings, mounting bracket 5 comprises vertically disposed square tubing members 19 carrying therebetween in fixed relationship at their lower terminal portions a bottom square tubing member 21 and at their upper terminal portions a top tubing member 23. Top tubing member 23 has upstanding from its bight portion and in fixed relationship therewith an upstanding pintle 25. Slidably received within vertical tubing members 19 are height adjusting square tubing members 27. Bolts 29, disposed through aligned holes formed in the lower portions of vertical members 19 and correspondin holes formed in the upper portions of height adjusting members 27, permit vertical height adjustment of mounting bracket 5, with such height adjustment fixed as disposed by nuts engaged with the threaded end portions of bolts 29. Foot anchor pins 31, carried in fixed relationship on the terminal ends of height adjusting members 27, are received in removable mounting relationship in complemental holes 33 formed in rear step 11. U-shaped brackets 35 are carried on the upper portions of vertical members 19. Bolts 37, disposed through aligned holes formed in brackets 35 and corresponding holes 39 formed in vertical members 19, permit adjustable disposition of brackets 35 relative to vertical members 19, with securement provided by nuts engaged with the threaded end portions of bolts 37. Each of the brackets 35 carries a cross pin 41 pivotally mounting an arm 43 fixed to another arm 45 by means of bolts 47 disposed through corresponding holes formed in arms 43 and 45, and which holes permit thereby relative longitudinal adjustment of arms 43 and 45, with securement of arms 43 and 45 provided by nuts 49 appropriately engaged with the threaded portions of bolts 47. Fixed on one end of arm 45 is a semicircularjaw 51. Disposed in common with semicircular jaw 51 is a semi-circular jaw 53 carrying a threaded rod 55 engaged with a tapped hole formed in a slide 57.

The relative longitudinal adjustment between threaded rod 55 and slide 57 is fixed by nut 59 engaged on threaded rod 55 and appropriately tightened against slide 57. A bifurcated push-clamp bracket 61, fixed to arm 45 by cap screws 63 disposed through holes formed in arm 45 and engaged with tapped holes formed in bracket 61, has opposed ears 65 carrying a cross pin 67 pivotally mounting therebetween one end of the small leg 69 of an L-shaped hand lever 71. Cross pins 73 and 75, carried, respectively, by hand lever 71 and slide 57, carry and pivotally mount therebetween links 77. Guide 79 of push-clamp bracket 61 slidably receives therein slide 57. In the movement of semicircular jaw 53, its top slides on the bottom of arm 45.

To mount and engage in fixed relationship the common, semicircular jaws 51 and 53 with grab rail 17, the hand levers 71, as viewed in FIG. 7, are rotated counter-clockwise-to first open the semicircular jaws 51 and 53, then the semi-circular jaws 51 and 53 are appropriately disposed for engaging relationship with grab rail 17, and then hand levers 71 are rotated clockwise to thereby engage in fixed relationship the common, semi-circular jaws 51 and .53 with grab rail 17. Each of the hand levers 71 has a positive-lock position that is effected when hand lever 71 is sufficiently disposed in a clockwise direction such that the center of cross pin 73, as viewed in FIG. 7, is above an imaginary line passing through the centers of cross pins 67 and 75.

Firehose retractor 3 has a top mounting plate 81 and depending side plates 83, 85, 87 and 89. Fixed to the underside of top mounting plate 81 and depending therefrom is an inverted pedestal bearing 91 which freely receives therein upstanding pintle 25 for pivotal mounting of firehose retractor 3 on mounting bracket 5. Side plates and 89 mount carry handles 93 to facilitate mounting emplacement of pedestal bearing 91 on pintle 25 and removal therefrom.

Front, horizontal guide roller 95 is freely mounted on trunnion mounts 97 suitably fixed to top mounting plate 81. Front, vertical guide rollers 99 are upstanding from and are freely mounted by mounting blocks 101 adjustably fixed to top mounting plate 81 by means of cap screws 103 disposed through holes formed in mounting blocks 101 and engaged with tapped holes 105 formed in top mounting plate 81.

As viewed in FIG. 2 of the drawings, upper retractor roller 107 and tapered, lower retractor roller 109, both of which are axially disposed horizontally, have shafts journalled in substantially square-shaped, journal bearing blocks 111 which are slidably received in right roller housing 113 and left roller housing 115 suitably fixed to top mounting plate 81. Right roller housing 113, of elongated U-shaped configuration, receives therein the journal bearing blocks 111 freely mounting the shafts of upper and lower retractor rollers 107 and 109 which extend to the right, and right roller housing 113 constrains the journal bearing blocks 111 it freely mounts to vertical and horizontal axial movements. Left roller housing 115 similarly has a portion 117 of elongated U-shaped configuration which receives therein the journal bearing blocks: 111 freely mounting the shafts of upper and lower retractor rollers 107 and 109 which extend to the left, and U-shaped portion 117 of left roller housing 115 constrains the journal bearing blocks 111 it freely mounts to vertical and horizontal axial movements.

Journal bearing blocks 111, mounting upper retractor roller 107, are suitably fixed to and depend from yoke 119. As shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings, suitably fixed to and depending from yoke 119 is a brush bracket 121 carrying brush 123. Suitably fixed to right roller housing 113 and the U-shaped portion 117 of left roller housing 115 is a brush bracket 125 carrying brush 127.

' Suitably fixed to and upstanding from yoke 119 is a square-shaped pintle 129 slidably received within a square-shaped, hollow spring housing 131. Spring housing 131 carries a cross pin 133 disposed through a transverse slot 135 formed through pintle 129, thereby permitting limited sliding, rocking movement of yoke 119 relative to spring housing 131. Threaded rod 137, carrying a hand knob 139 fixed therewith and operatively engaged with spring housing 131, bears against a compression spring 141 interposed within spring housing 131 between the lower remote end of threaded rod 137 within spring housing 131 and the upper remote end of pintle 129 within spring housing 131. Appropriate rotary movement of threaded rod 137 increases or decreases the compression of spring 141 upon pintle 129. 1

Suitably fixed to left roller housing 115 is a double trunnion mount 143. An L-shaped hand lever 145 is suitably fixed to an L-shaped link 147. Cross pin 149, carried by double trunnion mount 143, pivotally mounts L-shaped link 147. Another cross pin 151, carried by double trunnion mount 143, pivotally mounts one end of an L-shaped arm 153 whose other end is suitably fixed to spring housing 131. Cross pins 155 and 157, carried by L-shaped link 147 and L-shaped arm 153, respectively, pivotally mount therebetween links 159.

Tension-helper balance springs 161, whose ends are carried by spring housing 131 and by L-shaped link 147, function to assist movement of L-shaped hand lever 145 in the upward movement of hand lever 145 to its open position and the open position of upper retractor roller 107 with concomitant balanced retention thereat, as represented in F IG. of the drawings, to remove the journal bearing blocks 111, mounting upper retractor roller 107, from right roller housing 113 and the U-shaped portion 117 of left roller housing 115. [n such upward movement of hand lever 145, the tension helper'springs 161 are relieved of the tension imposed upon springs 161 in the closed position of hand lever 145 with the restoring force acting to assist movement of L-shaped hand lever 145 to its open position.

Hand lever 145 has a positive lock position that is effectuated when hand lever 145 is sufficiently disposed in a clockwise direction such that the center of cross pin 155, as viewed in FIG. 4 of the drawings, is below the imaginary line passing through the centers of cross pins 149 and 157.

With reference to FIG. 8 of the drawings, drive from electric motor 163 is transmitted to tapered lower retractor roller 109 through adjustable torque-responsive electric clutch 165, reduction gear box 167, lower right-angle gear box 169 and upper right-angle gear box 171. Suitable conventional operative connecting means are provided between motor 163 and clutch 165, between clutch 165 and reduction gear box 16 between reduction gear box 167 and lower right-angle gear box 169, between lower right-angle gear box 169 and upper right-angle gear box 171, and between upper right-angle gear box 171 and tapered lower retractor roller 109. Motor 163, clutch 165, reduction gear box 167 and lower right-angle gear box 169 are appropriately mounted in fixed relationship to the underside of top mounting plate 81. The upper right-angle gear box 171 is appropriately mounted in fixed relationship on the top mounting plate 81.

Control panel 173, appropriately mounted in fixed relationship to the underside of top mounting plate 8], houses lead-in wires from the power source and to the motor 163 and clutch 165, and houses a conventional control device for adjusting and setting the torque response of the conventional, electrically powered clutch 165. A double-pole, double-throw switch 175 is interposed across the power source and between the power source and motor 163 and clutch 165. Hand knob 177 is fixed to an L-shaped push-pull control rod 179 which is disposed in mounting relationship through left roller housing to switch 175. Pulling-out knob 177 closes switch 175 and completes the circuit from the power source to both the electric motor 163 and clutch 165. Pushing in knob 177 opens switch 175 and opens the circuit from the power source to both the electric motor 163 and clutch 165.

A trigger-controlled, dead-mans switch 181 is suitably mounted in fixed relationship to the underside of top mounting plate 81. Switch 181 is interposed between clutch and switch 175. Switch 181 incorporates a spring-biased trigger 183. Assuming switch is closed, until trigger 183 is finger-depressed, the circuit to clutch 165 remains open; and, upon depressing trigger 183, the circuit to clutch 165 is closed. Switch 181 also incorporates a laterally located button switch 185 that can be utilized to control a circuit to operate a warning bell or light to indicate to the driver of the fire engine 7 whether to stop or back up the fire engine 7 during the firehose retracting procedure.

Rear, horizontal guide roller 187 is freely mounted on trunnion mounts 189 suitably fixed to top mounting plate 81. I

FIG. 10 depicts sections of 5 inch, collapsible, pressure-type firehose 191 coupled together by their interlocked coupling 193. FIG. 11 depicts sections of 2% inch, collapsible, pressure-type firehose 195 coupled together by their interlocked coupling 197.

The operation of the retracting procedure utilizing the firehose retractor 3 of this invention to retract a coupled-together firehose, generally referred to by reference numeral 199, lying on the ground is as will be described.

It should be noted that lower retractor roller 109 is changed to accommodate different sizes of collapsible, pressure-type firehoses 199. When firehose 199 is compressed or flattened, it will have edge end creases 201 and flat portions 203 on the top and bottom. Lower retractor roller 109 has a fiat portion 205 and tapered end portions 207. A particular lower retractor roller 109 is selected such that its flat portion 205 will be approximately one inch less than the compressed width of firehose 199 such that the tapered end portions 207 of lower retractor roller 109 will thereby accommodate the end creases 201 of firehose 199. Hence, when firehose 199 passes between upper retractor roller 107 and lower retractor roller 109, firehose 199 will be compressed and flattened with trapped water and air squeezed out of and removed from firehose 199; and, since the edge end creases 201 of firehose 199 will be spatially accommodated by the tapered end portions 207 of bottom, lower roller 109, there will be complete feeding and squeezing surface contact from both the upper retractor roller 107 and lower retractor roller 109 with the flat portions 205 of firehose 199. And, since the tapered end portions 207 of the lower retractor roller 109 spatially accommodate the edge end creases 201 of firehose 199, no damage to firehose 199 results from the compression and flattening of firehose 199 by the upper retractor roller 107 and lower retractor roller 109. Furthermore, the pressure which upper retractor roller 107 and lower retractor roller 109 exert on interposed firehose 199 can be adjusted to the degree necessary to maintain proper feed of firehose 199.

Depending upon the particular size of firehose 199 to be retracted, the front, vertical guide rollers 99 are appropriately disposed and adjusted laterally to accommodate and guide firehose 199 therebetween.

The open end of coupled-together firehose 199 is raised to shoulder height by a fireman to allow water drainage from such raised section of firehose 199. Hand lever 145 is appropriately manipulated to dispose upper retractor roller 107 to its open position. Then such raised section of firehose 199 is appropriately trained over front, horizontal guide roller 95, between front, vertical guide rollers 99, over brush 127 and lower retractor roller 109, and then hand lever 145 is appropriately manipulated to close upper retractor roller 107. Hand knob 139 is appropriately manipulated to adjust the pressure which the upper retractor roller 107 and lower retractor roller 109 exert upon interposed firehose 199. The torque that clutch 165 will transmit to lower retractor roller 109 is appropriately adjusted. Switch 175 is closed, appropriate signal is given to the fireman in the cab of the fire engine 7 to begin backing up the fire engine 7, and the springbiased trigger 183 of the dead-mans switch 181 is appropriately depressed to complete the power circuit to electric clutch 165 to transmit drive to lower retractor roller 109. As the coupled-together firehose 199 feed between upper retractor roller 107 and lower retractor roller 109, the inverted pedestal bearing 91 of the firehose retractor 3 will automatically pivot on upstanding pintle 25 of mounting bracket 5 to cause the retractor rollers 107 and 109 to face in the correct and proper direction of feed of firehose 199 corresponding to the serpentine position of lie, or otherwise, of coupledtogether firehose 199 on the ground. Firehose 199, being fed through the retractor rollers, passes over the rear, horizontal guide roller 187 to the firemen stationed in the hose bed 209. These firemen, in turn, appropriately fold the coupled-together firehose 199 and store same compactly in the hose bed 209 of fire engine 7. Should the firehose 199 become snagged on the ground during retraction or should the fire engine 7 not be backed up at the speed which is commensurate to the speed at which the firehose 199 is being retracted by the retractor rollers, clutch 165 will slip and continue slipping, and cause lower retractor roller 109 to stop and to remain stopped thereby stopping the feed of firehose 199 without any consequent damage to firehose 199. Feeding of firehose 199 will commence again when firehose 199 is freed of its ground snag or when fire engine 7 is backed up at the commensurate rate of speed required, as the case may be. As firehose 199 passes between contacting brushes 123 and 127, any

10 small stones, pebbles or other debris are removed from firehose 199.

During the retracting procedure it may be necessary to readjust the pressure which the upper retractor roller 107 and lower retractor roller 1.09 are exerting upon interposed firehose 199, or to adjust the torque that clutch 165 transmits to lower retractor roller 109, or to readjust both such pressure and torque. To make such necessary adjustment, spring-biased trigger 183 is simply released to stop the feeding of firehose 199, the proper adjustment is made to pressure or torque, or

. both, and spring-biased trigger 18B is again depressed to begin again the feeding of firehose 199 between the retractor rollers. When a hose coupling of coupledtogether firehose 199 reaches the retractor rollers, the hose coupling will not feed through the retractor rollers, and lower retractor roller 109 will stop in response to clutch slippage. Then spring-biased trigger 183 is simply released, hand lever is appropriately manipulated to dispose upper retractor roller 107 to its open position, the hose coupling of firehose 199 is passed beyong the retractor rollers, the hand lever 145 is appropriately manipulated to dispose upper retractor roller 107 to its closed position, ahd the spring-biased trigger 183 is depressed to commence again the feeding of firehose 199 between the retractor rollers. From the preceding description of its operative use in this invention, the significant safety feature of dead-mans switch 181 in the retracting procedure should be obvious. A fireman must maintain finger depression of springbiased trigger 183 continuously or the retracting procedure will abruptly stop.

From the foregoing description of the operation of firehose retractor 3 for retracting coupled-together firehose 199, it should be discerned and appreciated that firehose retractor 3 is able to retract a coupledtogether firehose not only including but also varying from the types of collapsible, pressure-type firehoses shown and described in FIGS. 10 and 11 of the drawings.

FIGS. 12 and 13 depict a modification of the power train of firehose retractor 3 for simultaneously transmitting drive to both the upper retractor roller 107 and lower retractor roller 109. To effect such drive transmission, the same motor 163 is. utilized; however, motor 163 is appropriately wired such that its drive will rotate in the direction opposite to the direction in which the shaft of motor 163 rotates when transmitting drive only to lower retractor roller 109.

The clutch 165, reduction gear box 167 and lower right-angle gear box 169 are the same-whether drive is transmitted only to lower retractor roller 109, or, as is the case in the modification shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, drive is transmitted simultaneously to both the upper retractor roller 107 and the lower retractor roller 109.

As shown in FIG. 12, a double-drive, right-angle gear box 211 is used in place of upper right-angle gear box 171. Double-drive, right-angle gear box 211 is appropriately mounted in fixed relationship on the top mounting plate 81. Vertical shaft 213 is appropriately journalled in gear box 211. Suitable conventional connecting means connect in operative relationship the lower right-angle gear box 169 and shaft 213. Bevel gear 215, fixed to shaft 213, is operatively engaged with bevel gear 217 fixed to horizontally disposed shaft 219 which transmits drive directly to lower retractor roller 109.

Bevel gear 221, fixed to shaft 213, is operatively engaged with bevel gear 223 fixed to horizontally disposed shaft 225 to likewise transmit drive directly to upper retractor roller 107. Shaft 225 is appropriately journalled in bearings 227 mounted in bearing carrier 229 suitably fixed to left roller housing 115.

A hexagonally-configured, male, quick-coupling member 231 has a threaded shaft 233 engaged in fixed relationship with a tapped hole formed in shaft 235 of upper retractor roller 107. Male, quick-coupling member 231 is receivable, for operative connecting relationship, within a complemental recess formed in a female, quick-coupling member 239 journalled in bearings 241 mounted in coupling carrier block 243. Female, quick-coupling member 239 has an integral shaft 245.

A conventional flexible coupling is utilized to operatively connect shaft 225 and shaft 245 for drive transmission to upper retractor roller 107. This conventional flexible coupling comprises slider couplings 247 and 249 ,with a sliding-block center member (not shown). Each of the slider couplings 247 and 249 has two C-shaped jaw flanges which drive the square, sliding-block center member. The jaws of each flange engage opposite sides of the sliding-block center member and permit thereby relative sliding motion of the two flanges of each slider coupling at right angles to each other. Slider coupling 247 receives shaft 225 and is suitably fixed to shaft 225 by being pinned thereto; and slider coupling 249 receives shaft 245 and is suitably fixed to shaft 245 by being pinned thereto. Coupling carrier block 243 appropriately carries in fixed relationship therewith pins 251 disposed through transverse slots 253 fored through left roller housing 115 for relative up-and-down movement of coupling carrier block 243 relative to left roller housing 115 and hence up-and-down movement of upper retractor roller 107 relative to lower retractor roller 109.

The flexible coupling described facilitates operative engagement and disengagement of male, quickcoupling member 231 with complemental recess 237 01 female, quick-coupling member 239 because the flexible coupling described allows up-and-down movement of female, 'quick-coupling member 239 and slider coupling 249 relative to shaft 225; moreover and primarily, the flexible coupling described with its slider couplings 247 and 249 allow parallel up-and-down movement of upper retractor roller 107 relative to lower retractor roller 109 to spatially accommodate varying thicknesses of different flrehoses 199 between the retractor rollers.

FIG. 13 depicts upper retractor roller 107 in its open position with male, quick-coupling member 231 disengaged from complemental recess 237 of female, quickcoupling member 239.

Hence, upon drive being transmitted by clutch 165, upper retractor roller 107 will rotate in one direction and lower retractor roller 109 will rotate in the opposite direction to afford positive feeding engagement and drive of flrehose 199 by both retractor rollers.

Having thusly described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A flrehose retractor for retracting firehose for storage by flattening and removing trapped water and air from coupled-together, collapsible, pressure-type firehose, laid-out on the ground sepentine-fashion or otherwise, without dragging said coupled-together firehose on the ground, fraying or otherwise damaging said firehose; said flrehose retractor comprising means for pivotal mounting of said firehose retractor, said firehose retractor comprising retractor rollers, guide rollers and drive means for transmitting drive to at least one of said retractor rollers, said drive means having in its drive train a torque-responsive clutch; said retractor rollers feeding therebetween said flrehose and removing trapped water and air from said flrehose, said guide rollers guiding said flrehose to said retractor rollers, said guide rollers and said flrehose-retractor, pivotal mounting means cooperating to automatically face said retractor rollers in the correct and proper direction of feed for said firehose to said retractor rollers regardless of the lie of said coupled-together firehose on the ground, and said torque-responsive clutch permitting retractor roller drive slippage to inclusively prevent said coupled-together firehose from being dragged on the ground, to prevent said firehose from being frayed and to prevent said firehose from being otherwise damaged.

2. A firehose retractor in accordance with claim 1, wherein said pivotal mounting means comprises a pedestal bearing carried by said firehose retractor, an upstanding pintle carried by a mounting bracket adapted to be carried by a fire engine and wherein said upstanding pintle receives said pedestal bearing in pivotal mounting relationship.

3. A flrehose retractor in accordance with claim 1, wherein one of said retractor rollers has tapered portions to spatially accommodate the edge end creases of said flrehose formed by said retractor rollers in their flattening of said flrehose and whereby damage to said firehose and its edge end creases is prevented by said tapered portions of said retractor roller spatially accommodating said edge end creases so formed by the flattening of said firehose.

4. A flrehose retractor in accordance with claim 1, wherein said flrehose retractor has brushes appropriately disposed to automatically remove small stones, pebbles and other debris from said flrehose.

5. A flrehose retractor in accordance with claim 1, wherein said flrehose retractor has pressure adjusting means operatively connected with one of said retractor rollers to adjust the pressure said retractor rollers exert on said flrehose feeding between said retractor rollers.

6. A flrehose retractor in accordance with claim 1, wherein said firehose retractor has means operative to raise one of said retractor rollers to an open position to allow passage of a flrehose coupling and to return said opened retractor roller to a closed position for operative engagement with said flrehose.

7. A firehose retractor in accordance with claim 1, wherein said drive means comprises an electric motor operatively connected to said torque-responsive clutch, wherein power to said clutch is controlled by a switch and said torque-responsive clutch is adjustable to permit sufficient drive torque to be transmitted to effect pick up of said coupled-together flrehose from the ground and feed of said flrehose between said retractor rollers.

8. A firehose retractor in accordance with claim 1, wherein said flrehose retractor has a guide roller operatively disposed beyond the feed of said flrehose from said retractor rollers and wherein said guide roller guides said'firehose feeding from said retractor rollers.

9. A firehose retractor in accordance with claim 1, wherein said drive means through its drive train transmits drive to said retractor rollers.

10. A firehose retractor in accordance with claim 1, wherein said pivotal mounting means comprises a pedestal bearing carried by said firehose retractor, an upstanding pintle carried by a mounting bracket adapted to be carried by a fire engine and wherein said upstanding pintle receives said pedestal bearing in pivotal mounting relationship; wherein one of said retractor rollers has tapered portions to spatially accommodate the edge end creases of said firehose formed by said retractor rollers in their flattening of said firehose and whereby damage to said firehose and its edge end creases is prevented by said tapered portions of said retractor roller spatially accommodating said edge end creases so formed by the flattening of said firehose; wherein said firehose retractor has brushes appropriately disposed to automatically remove small stones, pebbles and other debris from said firehose; wherein said firehose retractor has pressure adjusting means op eratively connected with one of said retractor rollers to adjust the pressure said retractor rollers exert on said firehose feeding between said retractor rollers; wherein said firehose retractor has means operative to raise one of said retractor rollers to an open position to allow passage of a firehose coupling and to return said opened retractor roller to a closed position for operative engagement with said firehose; wherein said drive means comprises an electric motor operatively connected to said torque-responsive clutch, wherein power to said clutch is controlled by a switch and said torqueresponsive clutch is adjustable to permit sufficient drive torque to be transmitted to effect pick up of said coupled-together firehose from the ground and feed of said firehose between said retractor rollers; and wherein said firehose retractor has a guide roller operatively disposed beyond the feed of said firehose from said retractor rollers and wherein said guide roller guides said firehose feeding from said retractor rollers. =1: l= 

1. A firehose retractor for retracting firehose for storage by flattening and removing trapped water and air from coupledtogether, collapsible, pressure-type firehose, laid-out on the ground sepentine-fashion or otherwise, without dragging said coupled-together firehose on the ground, fraying or otherwise damaging said firehose; said firehose retractor comprising means for pivotal mounting of said firehose retractOr, said firehose retractor comprising retractor rollers, guide rollers and drive means for transmitting drive to at least one of said retractor rollers, said drive means having in its drive train a torqueresponsive clutch; said retractor rollers feeding therebetween said firehose and removing trapped water and air from said firehose, said guide rollers guiding said firehose to said retractor rollers, said guide rollers and said firehoseretractor, pivotal mounting means cooperating to automatically face said retractor rollers in the correct and proper direction of feed for said firehose to said retractor rollers regardless of the lie of said coupled-together firehose on the ground, and said torque-responsive clutch permitting retractor roller drive slippage to inclusively prevent said coupled-together firehose from being dragged on the ground, to prevent said firehose from being frayed and to prevent said firehose from being otherwise damaged.
 2. A firehose retractor in accordance with claim 1, wherein said pivotal mounting means comprises a pedestal bearing carried by said firehose retractor, an upstanding pintle carried by a mounting bracket adapted to be carried by a fire engine and wherein said upstanding pintle receives said pedestal bearing in pivotal mounting relationship.
 3. A firehose retractor in accordance with claim 1, wherein one of said retractor rollers has tapered portions to spatially accommodate the edge end creases of said firehose formed by said retractor rollers in their flattening of said firehose and whereby damage to said firehose and its edge end creases is prevented by said tapered portions of said retractor roller spatially accommodating said edge end creases so formed by the flattening of said firehose.
 4. A firehose retractor in accordance with claim 1, wherein said firehose retractor has brushes appropriately disposed to automatically remove small stones, pebbles and other debris from said firehose.
 5. A firehose retractor in accordance with claim 1, wherein said firehose retractor has pressure adjusting means operatively connected with one of said retractor rollers to adjust the pressure said retractor rollers exert on said firehose feeding between said retractor rollers.
 6. A firehose retractor in accordance with claim 1, wherein said firehose retractor has means operative to raise one of said retractor rollers to an open position to allow passage of a firehose coupling and to return said opened retractor roller to a closed position for operative engagement with said firehose.
 7. A firehose retractor in accordance with claim 1, wherein said drive means comprises an electric motor operatively connected to said torque-responsive clutch, wherein power to said clutch is controlled by a switch and said torque-responsive clutch is adjustable to permit sufficient drive torque to be transmitted to effect pick up of said coupled-together firehose from the ground and feed of said firehose between said retractor rollers.
 8. A firehose retractor in accordance with claim 1, wherein said firehose retractor has a guide roller operatively disposed beyond the feed of said firehose from said retractor rollers and wherein said guide roller guides said firehose feeding from said retractor rollers.
 9. A firehose retractor in accordance with claim 1, wherein said drive means through its drive train transmits drive to said retractor rollers.
 10. A firehose retractor in accordance with claim 1, wherein said pivotal mounting means comprises a pedestal bearing carried by said firehose retractor, an upstanding pintle carried by a mounting bracket adapted to be carried by a fire engine and wherein said upstanding pintle receives said pedestal bearing in pivotal mounting relationship; wherein one of said retractor rollers has tapered portions to spatially accommodate the edge end creases of said firehose formed by said retractor rollers in their flattening of said firehose and whereby damage to said firehose and its edge end creases is prevented by sAid tapered portions of said retractor roller spatially accommodating said edge end creases so formed by the flattening of said firehose; wherein said firehose retractor has brushes appropriately disposed to automatically remove small stones, pebbles and other debris from said firehose; wherein said firehose retractor has pressure adjusting means operatively connected with one of said retractor rollers to adjust the pressure said retractor rollers exert on said firehose feeding between said retractor rollers; wherein said firehose retractor has means operative to raise one of said retractor rollers to an open position to allow passage of a firehose coupling and to return said opened retractor roller to a closed position for operative engagement with said firehose; wherein said drive means comprises an electric motor operatively connected to said torque-responsive clutch, wherein power to said clutch is controlled by a switch and said torque-responsive clutch is adjustable to permit sufficient drive torque to be transmitted to effect pick up of said coupled-together firehose from the ground and feed of said firehose between said retractor rollers; and wherein said firehose retractor has a guide roller operatively disposed beyond the feed of said firehose from said retractor rollers and wherein said guide roller guides said firehose feeding from said retractor rollers. 